This Blog will be dedicated to the weekly letters of Sister Lindsi Swenson. She is serving in the Budapest Hungary Mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day saints.

Sunday, August 6, 2017

If life keeps being this good, I am not going to leave this country.

Lets get right to it. This week was one of those "if life keeps being this good, I am not going to leave this country, I simply won't"

It started out with last pday. We ended up tracting, at a super random time in the day, when it was still pday, I don't even really know why, kinda just because we felt like we should? We ended up tracting into this 24 year old Russian girl, who had such a cool perspective on life. One thing she kept bringing up is how people should practice what they preach. That is a huge problem with the world today, people say one thing, and do another. It was an amazing discussion, and such a miracle find. Gosh it's so cool to be literally lead, in the middle of a pday, to these people that are just so ready to meet with us.

We were walking on the street and we saw the cutest little néni. Sister Solomon told the Néni that she loved her dress, and the Néni just broke down into tears, and told us how it was her and her dead husband's anniversary today, and how she was going to visit his grave. She bought the dress 30 years ago and wore it today for that special reason. She had the cutest bright light pink lips too, she got so ready ah. We accompanied her to buy her husband some flowers. Then she asked us to come and go with her to her husbands grave. It was the coolest experience because there is this beautiful Catholic temple in Debrecen, and she took us into the basement, a place you can only go with a key, where her husbands ashes were. We were standing by his grave, and I asked her if she believed she would see him again.

She told me that she didn't know. It was a blessing for me to look into those sweet little eyes and testify that I know that she will meet him again. I know that God has a plan for her. She asked me why God would leave her alone, and we got to teach her all about God's perfect plan for us in the bottom of a cold, stone, catholic temple. I know that God put that cute little néni in our path, I couldnt help but just feel like she needed someone in that time, and that God knew that, and he directed us over there. he truly truly watches over all of his children.

So we found a new investigator this week, and we made a little deal with him. We promised him that we would go to his church on Saturday (seventh day adventist) , if he would come to ours (I am a missionary from the mormon church. ever heard of it?) so saturday morning we met good old Péter by the nagy templom, and walked on over to his church. It was so interesting. Honestly, our churches are not a lot different. There was a lot of truth. Seriously those were some amazing people there. Their faith in Christ, and the motivation they recieve from it to help other people was inspiring, but the whole time i could not help but just feel like something was missing. I couldn't help but think about the temple. I couldn't help but think about Joseph Smith, the Book of Mormon, Thomas S. Monson, General conference... It made me so grateful for my knowledge of the FULLNESS of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Those words have never rang so true to me.

Lastly yesterday we had a let in from the kindest couple I have ever met. We talked about the restoration, and they loved it. They had the most firm testimonies in Jesus Christ, and what he had done for us. My new favorite question to ask people while we tract is what advice they would give to the younger generation. Anikő looked straight into my soul and basically told me that what I am doing right now, being a missionary in Hungary, telling the world of the truth, would change my life. That hit me extremely hard. As I start my last full week as a full time missionary from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, I can't help but hear the resounding truth from that statement. My mission has changed my life. I have one more week to give EVERYTHING i have to my Savior. To my Heavenly Father, and I can testify that Aniko was right. I will give everything I have to the last second, to the moment I get to be safe in my parents loving arms, because that is the least I can do.

Alma 26:36-37

36 Now if this is boasting, even so will I boast; for this is my life and my light, my joy and my salvation, and my redemption from everlasting wo. Yea, blessed is the name of my God, who has been mindful of this people, who are a branch of the tree of Israel, and has been lost from its body in a strange land; yea, I say, blessed be the name of my God, who has been mindful of us, wanderers in a strange land.

37 Now my brethren, we see that God is mindful of every people, whatsoever land they may be in; yea, he numbereth his people, and his bowels of mercy are over all the earth. Now this is my joy, and my great thanksgiving; yea, and I will give thanks unto my God forever. Amen.

1. Pday plans?

find a hard guitar case, shop around, lunch with the elders. the usual shenanegons (why did i even attempt that word?)

2. Did you do your singing finding? I saw the wonderful video your mission president posted where you guys and the branch president and his wife were signing...and you were playing your guitar. not going to lie...make me cry big happy tears!!

we didnt, but we got to do a nice little number during church that turned out really great.

3. What is your favorite color?

pine tree green, or yellow. not together though haha

4. Are you going to be up to running a 10K with us on September 16?... Say yes!!!

YES. absolutely

5. Any Americans in your branch?

nope not an american in sight of that thing

6. What do you guys usually do for District meeting?

hah really nothign too exciting. just have the meeting then eat lunch

7. What are you studying currently during your personal study time?

i am currently studying doctrine and covenants and i love it

8. Did you listen to any podcasts before you left? I am currently obsessed with them....

serial yes, BUT you have to show me all of the ones you are obsessed with cause i love them too

9. If you had to pick one lake to go to for the rest of your life...and you could never go to the other to stay/play....which one would it be???? Lake Powell or Bear Lake?

lake powell hands down

10. Did you know I have a timer set for 12:30 on August 10th? I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!!